Okeechobee man, 94, found dead next to burning golf cart

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY — The state Medical Examiner's Office is reviewing the death of a senior citizen found engulfed in flames next to a burning golf cart outside his home Monday, the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office said.

Lowell Edwin Smith, 94, was found at about 1 p.m. Monday, the Sheriff's Office said. A family member told deputies Smith had been outside his home in the 3700 block of Southwest 28th Street building a small fire to burn a tree stump and some boxes. When Smith had been gone for half an hour, the relative stepped outside and found him in flames, according to a press release. The fire had spread about 50 feet from Smith and his golf cart, the Sheriff's Office said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze.

A detective said the preliminary investigation showed Smith either lost his balance or had health issues which caused him to fall into the fire. The Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death.